The Latest: Kansas governor declares state of emergency

CHICAGO — The Latest on a winter storm that is forecast to dump snow across the Midwest (all times local):

2:50 p.m.

Kansas officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads because of dangerous conditions across much of the state.

Gov. Jeff Colyer declared a state of emergency because of the winter storm moving across Kansas on Sunday that is creating blizzard conditions and slick roads. A section of Interstate 70 was closed Sunday morning between Salina and Wakeeny.

Colyer says travelers should consider delaying their trips until after the storm passes if possible. Anyone who must be on the road, should consult 511 road conditions hotlines and make sure their gas tank is full and cell phone fully charged.

In neighboring Missouri, Interstate 29 is closed near the Iowa border. Officials say additional road closures are likely during the storm.

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11:40 a.m.

Part of Interstate 80 is closed in eastern Nebraska because of multiple accidents after snow blanketed the area.

The Nebraska State Patrol closed westbound I-80 between Lincoln and Omaha because of the crashes on Sunday morning, which included semitrailer trucks jackknifed across the highway.

Strong winds and snow are expected to create blizzard conditions across much of Nebraska and parts of Kansas on Sunday. The National Weather Service is warning those conditions will make travel difficult in places.

Between 4 to 6 inches of snow is possible in the Kansas City area. Forecasters predict more than a foot of snow is likely in southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa.

Several inches of snow are expected to fall in the Des Moines area Sunday, and difficult travel conditions are likely south of Interstate 80 in Iowa.

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11:15 a.m.

Nearly 500 flights have been cancelled on one of the busiest travel days of the year as a fast-moving winter storm bears down on much of the Midwest on the last day of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The flight-tracking website FlightAware reported that 491 flights headed to or from the U.S. had been cancelled as of 11 a.m. Sunday.

The site reported that the majority of the cancellations are flights that were supposed to be routed through Chicago or Kansas City — two areas forecast to be hit hard by the storm.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Other parts of central plains and Great Lakes region are under a winter storm warning.